Circular-knitting machine.



E. B. PRESTON.

CIRCULAR KNITTING Mmmm.

APPLICATION FILED JN. 13, 1912.

Patented NGV. i8, 1913.

(i SHEETS "SHEET l,

ATM.

PRESTON.

CIRCULAR KNITTING Mmmm;

AIPLIQTION FILED JAMAS, 3.012.

www@ :Nm/.18, 1913.

6 BHBETS-SHBET 2.

W/ Jas;-

E; E PRESTON.

CIRCULAR KNTTING MACHNE.

APPLICATION FILED JAH. 1s, 1912.

Fatented Nov. 18, 1913.

SHEETS-SHEE'I' 3.

E. HAPRRSTON.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATXON FILED JANJB, 10|?.

LGT/@144, Patentml Nuv. 18, 1913,

li SHEETS, SEHIE," 1r.

E. E. PRESTON.

CIRCULAR KNITTXNG MAGHNR,

APPLICATION 'FILED JA Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

SHEETS-SHEET 6.

animi/ia,

Specification of Letters Patent'.

Piiiienmdfiilov. il er; l Eligiamnmmmueri aannam 13; um. llenan am; einem.

Be iii known thai! I, Enwnnn- Ernten-1m limeroer, a. subjeci oil the filing;e o @lineart lirijain, citizen of Leiiesler, Iilngland, re siding at Leiees-lerg inv bhe county of Leiees ter', England', have invented new and useful Improvements in or Relfrtling lie Circular H-nirting" llfiaehines; of which the following is :i specification.

This invention relatesto vcircular knitting' maehinesand embodies oet'tlafin novell features and combination o" parts the nalinre' of which isliereinafrer referred' to.

A1 knitting machine, in aecorr'lance with this# invention comprises a circular seriesoli needles all oirwhirh are Simultaneously movh aible longitudinally for stitch formingr purposes, and means for actuating the said needies @n masse for that purpose. lhroh nerdie iS- furnished with a separa-tt :rnd independenbtlnead layer to supplyit with yarn from which io' form its loop bhe sirirl thread layers being? arranged in a circular series above and in close proximity to the head or hooks of `the needles so anto facilitate the engagennmt of the thread by the latt-er. The circle of threadlayerS-is arranged to he eontzrarted and exi'ianded by an operable drvire for the purpose oli passing` the thread alf the front, and back oi ai needlennd either the needles or l'he thread layers (preferably the needles) have an intermittent rotary movement; the one relatively tio-libe otherto ia'rilitaie the engagement; of the thread by the needle hook and also to ellertztzl'ie lormatnion ol" patiernrd fabrics as hereinafter menl'ioned. lllarh needle is loraleil in a groove I iu the needle cylinder andthe latter prelimab'ly is fshugged one or more needle spaties rela-livel)7 lo the-thread layers between each course, ihr shoggug movement` taking plat-,e in the `same or the rCverSe direction as ma)7 4he desired` such movement being goi'erned largely by the partirular pattern it ma)1 be deoired lo produce in the iabrlr and in Page of batter-neil ilabrirs, different colored ilu-rada may he employed as Vwill be Well umlerstood. il. eirtular Series of loop holdors artl alqo on'iployod, the-hooks ol` which (infrage the loops on i'he needles. The IQaiil .erriw` oi loop holders is oper'aird by a snilable device and at eachv course is made lo expandnnd thereby release the loops and l tively air-le and liront views;

lsuhseqiienly lo contract io'ongage the loops The' needle operating device, the lonp device, and the device for holder operalinigA operating'the' thread layers may each be actuaferl through intermediate mechanism by' a cam, and a suitable arrangement oi Worm meehanism may be employed toY Shop; the needle cylinder, said' Worm mechanism bein controlled from a pattern wheel. The tnclcing wheel or ring mayA also he brough into* and ontJ of action automatically by means actuated by a patern Wheel.

In 'fartherdescribing. the invent-ion reference' will he hereinfrlter made to the accompanying drawings, wherein ll'igure 1 is :l sectional Side View ol'a knitling machine ciirisltruotrd according to this invention'. Fig. il is a seei'ional plan of the same taken on the line amb ol Fig. l. Fig. i2 an Qlevaiiou of part oi the pattern chain uwchanism shown in Fig. Q. Fig. i is-a plan of same. Fig. 8 is :1f-side view of the 1Y1(rf.'ll:i'iii-i;ins for shogi'gjing the needle cylinder and for controlling the lurking device. llig. l is a front View oli' the mechanisms Ashown in Fig". il. Figa. 5 and (l are respiri of an altrrnatife arrangement ol" mechanism 'for shearing the neef'lle cylinder. n A

Lilie parts are designated by the same referenti: characters throughout the drawings.

A kniiling' marhine according to this: invention comprises a eirrfular series ol" lat'oli needles 1 (Fig. l) arranged in tricks Q in a tylindrr 3 said needlra bring movable longitudinally in .Said tricks for 5t-,itch forming )iurpoae '.lhe nitdlrs 1 are moved een, 'msse i'or this ourpow by means of a devire l1. e0mprisiug' a ring' (Vig. l) movable up andy down the outside oi? tho needle cylinder and whit-h is adapted lo engage llie butta 5 of the needles in a manner more fully described later. The needle acluatiug (raisingf and lowering) ring flreeeives its motion-from or ring' which may lio Sii adjustable rod G (figs. l and il) connected to a pivcted lever (Figs. 2 and Ll) actuated by means oit a cam 8 on the main shaft 9 oi the machine. '.lhel ri ng e is assisted its op and down movements by apiverro 10 (Figs. l, 2 and 3). rlhe needle cylinder B islaiso furnished with e circular series or loon holders ll (Fig. il these be ing; arranged in tricks 12 formed in the upper end ot the cylinder and loeoted between 'the needle tricks 2. llach loop holder lilies hook i3 tor engaging; the' loop and in addi- 'tion is furnished with e toe liby means of 'which it is fulernrned in the bottom of its trieb. I

The loop holders are actuated i. e. 1caused to turn on their toes le by Ineens of e ring i5 which engages butts 16 on the loopv hold' is moved up 'and down on the outside of the needle cylinder by an adjustable rod 17 connected to a lever 'i8 (Fig. 2) ectua'ted by a cam 19 (Figs. l and 2) on the shaft 9. `The movement of the ring l5 up and down on the cylinder is assisted by a pivoted arm 20 (Fig. l) and the eieot of the 'op end dov/n movement oi' the s d ring l5 is to cerise the circular series ci holders il.. to respectively contract and expend to engage and release the loops.

Arranged above the needle cylinder is e. series ci thread loyers 2i (Fig. l) one thread layer being Jhirnished 'or each needle. Each thread layer 2i. besides heving thread eye 22 has a toe 23 by which it is rnovably suspended in e. trick 2e in a carrier or holder 25 attached. to a rod or spindle 26 lined in an arm or bracket 27. lhe toes 23 of the thread layers constitute the fuierunis on which the thread" layers move in the carrier 25 seid members being` actuated by means of o. ring-28v movable up and down onthe outside of the carrier 25 :vnd engaging butts 29 on the thread layers. The said operating ring 28 is actuated by en adinstzihle rod 30 connected to a lever 3l which in tnrn is actuated by cam 32 on the shaft 9 and the movementof the operating ring` 28 up and down the ont-side oi the carrier 2. is assisted by means oil a bivoted zii-rn The 'op and down movement of the ring Acauses the thread loyers 2l to respectively inove out and in between the needles i :is represented by the dotted and 'full lines in Fig. l, it being understood that all the thread layers of the series move in and out simultaneously between the yneedles l in the cylinder 3. The threads 34 proceed from the same orseparnte bobbins (not shown) end pass through holes arranged around the marginal edgeoiE a circular plate or thread guide 855 .ved nt a convenient height above the needle cylinder, for exemple it l i i 'neven/.ie

may be mounted on the carrier 25 as shown in lig. i. 231i pass to the eyes 22 and throgh them tov the needles l. The before mentioned levers 7, 1S and 31 are pivoted on a rod 37 and nach lever is furnished with a roller 38 or similar ineans thereon to 'engage its respec- 7o tive cam. The cams 8, 19 and 32 are shaped and tiined and arranged relatively one to another on the shaft 9 to actuate the needles il, loopl holders l1, and thread layers 21 in the required manner, of these 'parte beinges follows.' Assuming the needles i. to be down, the series of loop holders to be expanded and the series of thread layers to be contracted when in the normal position, then the before mentioned B0 Cenis 8, 19 and 32 rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. l, `will rst canse the series of loop holders l1 to contract i. e. close inward so that the hooks 13 engage the loops on the needles l, then the Se needles 1 Will be moved upward in the cylinder 3, their hooks being raised spproxiinetely to the position indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. l, the hookshl of the holders 11 holding the loops on the 9o needles from rising during the `upward movement of the needles. 'lhen while the needles remain in the raised position the series or thread loyers 21 expend z'. e.' the1 thread layers are and oerrying the threads 3d between the, needles to the position represented, by: dotted lines in lligi end Whilethe thread' layers occupy the outward positiony the needle cylinder 3 is rotated in one d'reetion or the other the distance ci one or more needle spaces relet-ively to the thread loyers' which latter, after the completion of the shogging movenient are moved threads back between did'erent needlesethus laying or Wrapping the threads around the needles underneath the hooks thereof. 'lifter this operation the loop holders 1l are moved outward and then the needles l are 110 drawn down so that they knit and `form the newly received threads int-o loops Where upon the cycle o1 operations is repeated.

@ne form of mechanism for sho-gging thev needle cylinder is and i, and comprises a shaft 39 having on one end a bevel pinion i0 Which gears with a bevel Wheel 4l attached to the bottom of the needle cylinder 3 which latter is rotatably mounted in the bed in the manner shown in Fig. l. The shaft 39 is driven by e pair of gear Wheels 43 'from a shaft 44 along which a toothed Wheel i5 driven by a feather 46 is slidable.

rection or the other along the shaft 44 to From the holes Fthe threads 65 the reletive operation moved outward passing 95 -shogged z'. e. it ispartly 10o' inward and carry. the

illustrated in Figs. 2, 3,

42 of the machine, 126

The seid toothed Wheel 45. is moved in one dil2'L Vbutts el, the needles consequently these spring 96 (Fig. 2), the stops arranged-on the pattern Wheel 05 to actuate;

needles are notlilted high enough to clear their loops and thus they torni tuck stitches. ln order to render the ring 79 operative or inoperative there may be located thereunder a cam ring" adapted to have a part rotary movement said ring having cam projections 8l which cooperate with cam projections on the underside of the ring (9 (see Fic. l When the cam ring SOYis moved in one direction under the ring (9, the cam projections 8,1 move under the 'cam projections 82 ot the ring 79 so as to raise the latter 'with the ring e, and when said cam ring is moved in the reverse direction thecani projections 8l move opposite the spa-Ces intermediate of the cam projections 82 so that when the caml ring 80 rises with the ring l it will not engage the cams S2 to litt the ring 'I9 which therefore does not rise With the ring l but' allows the tuching plate "Z7 to actuate the needle butts in the manner previouslyl described.

fin-arrangement oit mechanism t'or actuating the cam ring 80 in the manner just described is shown in Figs. 2, 3 and and consists of a lever 83 vpivoted at Se and operating the cani ring 80 by means or" a pin 85 up and down which a slotted arm 86 on tile ring 80 moves as the needle actuating ringl l 'rises and falls. The lever 83 is moved by means of a rod 87, levers 88 and 89, link 90, levers Q'l and 92, the latter being actuated by a sliding detent 03 operated by stops 9d on a pattern Wheel 05* Thispattern Wheel may be attached to or termed on 'the side of the before mentioned pattern Wheel 67 so as to rotate therewith. The mechanism i'ust described may be actuated in one direction by a spring, ior example the being pre the cainring 80 in the other direction at the times required.

The tuclring` plate l? may oe fixed to the needle actuating ring Il in which ease when the needle cylinder 3 is sliogged as herein before described, the butts oli different needles may be brought into position over theslots (8 and thus lurking may be caused to take place en different noodles around the cylinderu ln order to etlect such change, the needle cylinder must be shogged a different number of needle spaces than the tuclring plate is out for. For instance, in the example illustrated in Fig. 2, the spaces or slots '78 in the tucking plate being set out to cause the alternate needles to tuck, will, il the needle cylinder is shogfred for a distance of one, three or other odd number of needle spares cause the tuclring to take place on dillerent needles after each Shogof the cylinder. instead of being fixed noventa as just described, the patterning or tucling plate may be rotatably mounted in the ring Ll and be shofmed around or rclativelv to or: J

the needle cvlinder at each or a certain movement thereof. lWhen so arranged the tuclnng plate may be shogged by an arrangement oit mechanism the same as or similar to that hereinbefore described for' actuating the cam ring S0.

ln order that the before described autoA matic tuclring mechanism may be put' into and out of action automatically, the pattern wheel 05 may be slidably arranged on l' axle 0T and have rmechanism combined therewith and operated from stops or dogs on a pattern chain or drum for moving said ,wheel into and out. of operative .relation with the sliding detent 93. According to the arrangement shown in Figs. 2, 2a, 2b, and a ot' the drawings, the pattern Wheels 05 and 6 7 are moved laterally on the axle 67 hy a. shift lever 97 pivoted at 98 and operated by a link 99, levers 100, and 101, and' a pivoted bar 102. The said pivoted bar 102 is on opposite sides of its tulcruin 108 connected by rods 10e to the ends 105 of bell crank levers 106 (Figs. 2n and 2b). The said levers 10G rock on a rod 10G and have their other ends-107 located in the path ot vdogs 10S on a traveling pattern chain 109 suitablyY arranged and actuated. The dogs 108 are arranged to actuate either one or other ol the bell crank levers in the inanner shown in Fie. 2a thus movingfthe pivoted bar 102 in one direction or the other and causingthe pattern AWheel to move into or out of alineinent with the sliding; detent 03 for the purpose hereiubetore mentioned.

The pattern Wheel 67` may be made of sullicient Width to carry tivo or more sets of stops 06 which may be dilcrently arranged so that when the said Wheel is moved to carry the tuclring pattern Wheel int-o or out of operation a di'llerent set of stops on the pattern Wheel 6? may operation upon the slide bar 653 so that at the time that a change in the tuclring takes place a change in thc shogging or the needle cylinder may likewise be eected.. The number ot needle spaces the cylinder is shogg'ed at each shogging operation may be predetermined by providing a corresponds ing: number of operative portions on the Worm cams 47 and 48 or on the cam Wheels 74 and 75.

l. A circular.knitting machine having a series ot' needles all ot which are siinultsmem ously movable longitudinally or stitch forming purposes, a circular series of thread layers above and in close proximity to the hooks of the needles, 4means to move the be brought into notarili thread layers radially between thencedles so that each one eoti'iieral'es with a needle to carry the thread to the `trout and back ol the needles. pattern mechanism to auto matieally impart to the needles an inte|mittent rotary movement relatively to the thread layers in a predetermined manuer. means to cause certain predetcrmined needle` ol thc Series to torni tuck stitches. and mechanism to antomatitailly brins@r the aforesaid tueking' means into and out ol operation in a prearranged manner in relation to the intern'littent rotary movement ot the needles for the pmpcse described.

2. circular knittingr machine having!y a` f-:eries ol needles all of which are simultanenusly movable longitndimilly for stitch lei-ming purposes. a cirenlar series ot' thread layers :bore and in close proximity to the hoeka olf the needles. means to move the thread layers` radially between the needles so that each one cooperates with a needle to earr;v thc thread to the front: and back ol' the needles, pattern mechanism to antomatically impart to the needles an inttamittent rrtary movement' relatively to the thread layers in a predetermined manner, means to raus-c certain predetermined needles ot' the series to t'orm tuck stitches, and pattern mechanism to automatically actnate said means to cause tncking to take plaee on dillerent needles so that the tncking device may be prearrauged in relation to the inter mittent rotary movement of the needles t'or the purpose described. t

il. A circular knitting machine having,r a series of needles all of which are simultane oualy movable longitudinally for stitch toi-ming pnrpoaes. a circular series ot' thread layers 'abme and in close proximity to the hooks ot' the needles, means to move the thread layers radially between the needles` o that each one cooperates with a needle to earry the thread to the lront and back o'lA the needles.` pattern mechanism to antomatically impart to the needles an intermittent rotary iinn'eineut relatively to the thread layers` iu predetermiued manner, means to rauae certainpredetermined needles ot the .series to l'orm tuck stitches, mechanism to automatically bring the aforesaid tneking means into and out ot operation in a preav'ranged manner in relation to the intermittent rotary movement of the needles, and mechanism adapted to be prearranged to automatically control v'. e. put into and out et' action. the automatic operating mechanism oli' the tucking device.

ft, A eirtnilar knittine machine"having a series of rnwfllesl all or which are simultaneously mo 'able longitudinally for stitch formiiig purposes, a, circular series of thread layers alcove and in close proximity to the hooks ol the needles, means to move the thread layers radially between the needles so that each one coperaties wgith a` needle to carry the thread tothe liront: and back of the needles. pattern mechanism to automatically impart to the needles an intermittent rotary movement relatively to the thread layers in a. Iiredetermined manner. means to canse eertain pre1letermiued needles of the series to l'orm tuck stitches, pattern mechanism t0 autormitieally aetuate .said meansto canse t'uekinar to take plaee on different needles so that the tuekiug device may be prearranged in relation to the intermittent rotary merel ment ot' the needles. and mechanism adapted to be prearranged to automatically control i. e'. put into and out ol action, the automatic (per-ating nnvehanism' ot the tucking device.

5. lu a circular knitting machine the combination with a series ol' needles and means to move them longitudinally lt`er stitch 'torminar purposes. of means for intermittently rotating the needle cylinder consisting of a toothed wheel to rotate the cylinder, a pair of oppositely rotating worm cams. two opp0- sitely operating cams, a lever, a slidable disk ea rried by said lever, pattern mechanism to autonmtieallj.' move said disk into the path ot' one or other of said earns whereby the lever is moved by said cam, and conneetin Y melehanism between the lever and aforesai toothed wheel whereby the latter is moved into gear with one of the worm earns, substantially as and for the purpose described.

t3. In a eireular knitting machine the combination with a series of needles and a ring movable up and down the needle cylinder to acluate the needles` longitudinally for stitch forming purposes? ot a Slotted plate to raise certain needles and allow others to remain down. a ringr to render `said slotted plate operative or inoperative. and a earn ring?r to bring` `said ring into and out ol` action, substantially as and lor the pui-pone described. 7. lu a circular knitting machine the combination with a series ol" needles and a ring movable up and down the needle cylinder to actuate the needles` longitudinally for stitch forming purposes, of a slotted plate to raise certain needles and allou' others to remain down, a ring lo render said slotted plate operative or inoperative, a ram ring toln'ilig said ringr into and ont ol action, a pivotcd lever connected with said eam 1ing,asliding detent. a rod. levers aud a link connecting said detent` with. the pivot'ed lever, and a rotalimgr pattern wheel to aetuate the sliding detent7 substantially as and for the. purpose described. t

S. l i a eirenlar knitting.Y machine the combination with a` seriesI olI needles' and a ringr movable up and down the needle cylinder to actuate theneedles longitudinally lor stitch forming purposes, of o slotted plate to raise certain needlea` and allow others io remain down, a ring to fender: said slote plato opemlive or inoperative, e @am ring to bring Said ring into and out of action, a, pivol'ed lever connected with Said com ring, a sliding cletent, a rod, levers and .fi link Connecting :said cletenl; with the pivotecl lever, a otating pattern wheel to actuate the sliding datent, two bell crank levers, zittern mechanism to move either of Said eversT f1, pi'voted bur' connected to said level-S, and :l shift lever g aotuatecl by said pivoteil loaf to move 15h@ aforesaid pottei'o Wheel into and oui; of aliement wih the Sliding slalom, substzsw tally as wel for the purpose desciliedl ln esimony Wlieeo l have signori my name to this specficziion in gliepiesonceo two subserbiig witnessei.

EWRD EVERARD ST Witnesses:

WQ' G 'vlA'LoR7 GEORGE LESTER. 

